Lady of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 2) (16 page)

Vander woke to a growling stomach. Unlike Kalla and the Fox, he and Kasai had not had the luxury of dinner the night before. The wolf stretched and yawned, baring sharp white fangs. Claws scrabbled on the stone floor, waking the sleeping hawk.

“
What time is it…
” Kasai grumbled.

“
It is about seven in the morning,
” Vander replied.

The wolf trotted out of the cavern, the hawk taking wing behind him. They followed the same convoluted path back to the main chamber, but instead of going to find Kalla, the War Mage took the path into the Thunder Warrens. The Dashmari who were awake didn't interfere with them, having been warned by Aryff of the red frost wolf's presence in the caves.

“
Where are we going?
” the hawk asked.

“
I am going to hunt. You don't have to come. I imagine you would find the food here more palatable,
” Vander replied, a hint of defensiveness in his tone. The wolf had discovered that he enjoyed hunting when he had been stuck in this form. The hawk continued to follow him through the roaring Thunder Warrens. Here, too, they passed Dashmari stirring for the day.

“
You aren't getting rid of me that easily. Not here. Besides, you'd be surprised what I might find edible,
” Kasai shot back.

The wolf gave an irritated snort as they exited the caverns. Two hours later they, along with the wyvern, had brought down several of the bighorned mountain sheep and eaten their fill. Vander was surprised that the hawk had actually hunted with them and partaken of the kill.

“
Surely you could have found better fare in the Warrens, hawk,
” Vander said. Though Kasai had opted by this time to shift form, the mage had chosen to remain as a wolf. Both lounged against the wyvern. His magister barked a laugh.

“Fresh meat doesn't bother me, wolf. Vykr warriors eat it quite often.”

“
Well and good,
” Vander replied. He stood and stretched. “
We should be getting back.
”

* * *

Kalla glanced up from her place by Aryff's hearth, as Vander and Kasai returned. The War Mage had resumed his human form, as had his magister. He settled down beside the Healer.

“Good morning, Vander. Kasai. I trust you are doing better?” Kalla asked, giving Vander a searching look.

“I am fine, Dashkele. How… how is Merryn?” he asked softly.

“She was doing well, when I checked this morning. Still sleeping,” the Healer replied. Vander nodded, gazing off into the fire. He looked up as Aryff limped up to the fire.

“Welcome back, brother. Will you and your magister care for breakfast?” the Dashmuynin asked. Vander shook his head.

“We have eaten already. Water would be appreciated, though,” he replied. Aryff poured two bowls, handing one to Vander and one to Kasai, handing them over before settling down beside Aleister.

“Merryn is awake now. She would like to speak to you later. Both of you, if you would be so gracious, Lady Kalla,” Aryff said. He paused a moment before turning his attention to the War Mage.

“I am sorry, Vander, for not doing more to help you when we were younger. And I am sorry for what you went through with Grosso. I know that probably doesn't mean much, all these years later, but I am sorry.”

“There is nothing to apologize for. It is not your fault our people look down upon those like me. You tried… you did try. I can't deny that. I thank you for it. Of all my brothers, you were the only one who ever stood up for me.

“I never even knew I had a sister. I must admit, I didn't think she would want to see me again,” Vander replied.

“She does not see the color of your hair or eyes. She was always proud that she had a brother at the Kanlon and had me tell her all about you countless times, much to the anger and dismay of Kartoff.”

“Really? I am- Ow!” Vander yelped as his head was jerked back. He turned around with a growl, only to be confronted by a tiny cub still clutching the end of his ponytail. His ears twitched uncertainly, the growl dying away.

“Fire fur,” the cub squealed. She pushed between Kasai and Vander, scrambling up into the War Mage's lap. She patted his face and tugged on the scarred ear, running tiny fingers through his mane. Kalla and Aleister started laughing at his dumbfounded expression and even Kasai snorted in amusement.

“Nys, leave the mage alone,” Aryff chided gently. The cub turned to look at him, blinking big eyes at the Dashmuynin. Over-sized ears twitched in curiosity, one pricked and one halfway down.

“She's fine,” Vander said softly. Nys reached around him, pulling the ponytail over his shoulder, then settled in his lap to play with it. Seeing that Nys hadn't been chased off a handful of other cubs, of varying ages, swarmed over the magi and magisters, insatiably curious. Kalla laughed again, as an even smaller cub curled up in her lap, playing with the whistle around her neck. Even the magisters were not immune to having cubs clambering around and over them.

“I thought only soldiers were here?” the Healer asked.

“No, the Bloodwolves still live here. The families have just been pushed further back into the caverns to make room for the soldiers. That will change now, since you have released them from service,” Aryff replied.

Kalla nodded. Already groups of soldiers had come to pay their respects before leaving. Their relief was palpable. Most were ready to get back to their families and packs. Kalla gave them all her blessings.

She had spoken to the Donnerkeil as a whole earlier that morning, telling them of what she expected, most especially in regards to those like Vander. While she knew it would take some time for old habits to change, she did feel that she had spoken to a receptive audience.

While they sat and talked with Aryff amidst the tumbling cubs, several more groups came to pay respects. Many were edgy around the War Mage, but most treated him with the deference due his station and his rank. To the sensitive Dashmari, it was already more than obvious that he was an alpha.

As morning turned to afternoon, mothers came collecting the cubs for lunch and naps. Kalla smiled as Nys waved to them over her mother's shoulder and waved back. She stood, stretching, and asked Aryff if he would see if Merryn were ready to see them. He nodded and started to limp down the corridor to his sister's chamber.

“Aryff. I meant what I said. We can heal your leg,” she said. The Dashmuynin met her gaze for a moment, then shook his head.

“It is an old wound. A penance. And a part of who I am,” he replied. Aryff disappeared down the corridor, leaving a very puzzled Healer behind. She couldn't fathom why he would not accept their healing, though she wouldn't press him on it, not understanding its significance. The Dashmuynin returned shortly and beckoned for them to follow him.

“I am sorry, magisters, but I would ask that you wait out here once more,” Aryff asked, once they arrived at Merryn's door. The magisters nodded, taking places flanking the door.

Vander and Kalla ducked through the door hanging. Merryn sat up in the nest of blankets, leaning against the wall. A book and a bowl of water kept her company. She looked up as they entered, then dropped her gaze.

“Dashkele ti'amaraaq,” Merryn said softly. “I… thank you for healing me. And you, my brother.” She raised her head to look at them. Kalla smiled at her, kneeling down beside the girl's bedding. Vander did likewise.

“You are welcome, dear child. I am sorry that something like that happened to you in the first place,” Kalla said. She reached out and brushed her fingers over Merryn's forehead. “Your vows, such as they were, to Grosso tem'Solidor, are absolved. You are your own again and you will never be bartered away for political gain. You will be fairly won, as any female of the packs, if you choose to be won at all.”

“Thank you, Dashkele. I doubt I will ever find one who wishes to win me in the first place, but I thank you for freeing me from my tie to Grosso. I… I don't want him to come back here…” she said in a small voice.

“Don't worry. He will not be bothering Dashmar anymore. If he does, I will know,” Kalla replied. She and the Fox had spent the earliest hours of the morning scouring the remaining taint from the land. Dashmar was now fully free, and now that it was Kalla found that she could sense the health of the land very easily. If Grosso came back, she would most certainly know. “I will leave you with your brother now. I am sure you have much to discuss.”

Evening found all four, plus Merryn and Aryff, around the Dashmuynin's hearth.

“We need to go to Argoth. If Grosso is truly interfering with Sykes, it spells more trouble than the Khan or Kartoff put together. If the Fleet mobilises, they could destroy any land-bound country they set sights to. And I have a feeling the first target will be Rang'moori. He does so seem set on the destruction of his former homeland, does he not? I wonder why that is…” Kalla said. Aryff had informed her that Kartoff's true target had been the sheepherder's nation. The Crannogmarch and Kymru were simply in the way.

“Something happened to his family when he was little, before he came to the Kanlon. He rarely spoke of his past, but I can tell you he doesn't remember what happened to them. I doubt I was meant to remember any of what I did hear, but who pays attention to what their pet wolf overhears?” Vander remarked, voice tight.

“Merryn's right… he's never regarded the Dashmari as anything more than animals. Intelligent ones, but animals nevertheless. That's all I was to him. A dog trained to kill and punished harshly for failure,” Vander said. He shared a tense look with Kasai, but said nothing further.

“Well, we can be back in Argoth in two days. I say we leave in the morning. We'll need to stop at Kithva for refueling and they will allow no ships to land at night,” Aleister said. They discussed travel arrangements a bit longer and before long the cubs returned, eager to be around the newcomers. Kalla smiled tolerantly at their play.

After a time, Aryff rose and picked up a pair of tambourines that had been bundled up nearby. The Dashmuynin walked slowly to the center of the great cavern. Voices fell to a hush as he walked, every eye turned towards him.

Aryff paused a moment, slipping his fingers through the tambourine handholds. Then he began dancing, slow at first, but building in speed, plying the instruments skillfully. Kalla watched, enthralled. The Dashmuynin lost all trace of his infirmity, moving gracefully.

As he finished, the assembly as a whole murmured something in Dashmari. Vander echoed the words, a distracted look on his face. The War Mage rose and met his brother as Aryff walked back to his hearth. The two exchanged soft words, then Aryff reluctantly turned the instruments over to Vander. The War Mage walked to the center, still with a distracted air. Kalla looked to Kasai, who shrugged, a confused look on his face. Around them, the Dashmari had fallen silent once again.

Vander twirled the tambourines on his fingertips, before slowly slipping his fingers through the grips. His eyes closed in concentration, and then he began to dance. Where his brother had started slowly, the War Mage moved swiftly from the beginning, with the leonine grace of a warrior.

The Healer was stunned. This was about the last thing she would have expected from Vander, especially given how self-conscious he seemed around his people. She recalled seeing him, long ago, working at drills with his fellow trainees, graceful even then. As he finished, Kalla glanced to Aryff, only to find the Dashmuynin's face slack with shock. The gathered people murmured the same words they had for Aryff. The War Mage returned to the hearth and turned the tambourines back over to his brother.

“You… remembered? After all this time away, you remembered our mother's Dance?” Aryff asked. Vander shrugged and nodded, offering no comment.

“Your mother's Dance?” Kalla asked.

“Yes. Our mother was once Dashmuynin of the Bloodwolves. Every Dashmuynin has their own unique Dance, given to them by Kituk and Arvynn, when they are fully initiated. They are Danced for offerings, for ceremonial reasons, and for petitions. I remember… I loved watching her Dance,” Vander said softly. “I am sorry. I should not have done that.”

“It was beautiful, Vander. Thank you for sharing it,” Kalla said.

“Yes, thank you, brother. I never got to see our mother's Dance. She passed when I was still very young,” Merryn said.

Vander shook his head. “I should not have done it. It was not mine to Dance.”

“It is now,” Kalla replied. “Be what you were meant to be, my friend.”

“I am magi,” he said.

“So am I,” the Healer said. “Yet, I am more than that. So you should be.”

“We will leave today, milady?” Aleister asked.

Kalla smiled at his continued use of 'milady.'

“We leave after the funeral,” she replied.

The Dashmari bound their dead into
paska
trees, allowing the bodies to return to the elements. The trees, sacred to the wolf-folk, grew sparsely, and the nearest
paska
grove was some distance from the Warrens.

Kalla and Aleister made their way out through the corridors, to the great cavern, where they met Vander and Kasai. The War Mage had not gone hunting this morning, so the four broke their fast with Aryff and Merryn.

After breakfast Aryff slipped on simple robes dyed a deep blue color. The Dashmari's brows furrowed. He tilted his head, considering his brother. About the time Vander began to fidget under his gaze Aryff handed him similar robes of deep blue.

“You are about the same height as me. Not quite as broad in the shoulders, but it should fit,” Aryff murmured. Vander frowned at his brother.

“I can't…”

“You can. The Lady here has as good as said you are one of the Dashmuynin. You Dance. You are one of us,” Aryff replied, pushing the Dashmuynin robes into Vander's hands.

The War Mage stared at them for a moment, before taking off the magi robes he wore- black trimmed in the red of Solidor. He slipped the blue robes on, belting them with a thin black belt that Aryff provided.

Vander gave Kalla a self-conscious look and she smiled back at him. The Dashmuynin robes looked right on him and the blue deepened his sapphire eyes. Aryff rummaged around in his trunk and brought out a large pouch made of black leather. This he also gave to Vander.

“These were our mother's. I'm sure she'd want you to have them,” Aryff said. The War Mage carefully opened the pouch and let out a small sound of surprise. He slipped a beautiful set of tambourines out.

“Thank you. I will treasure them. It will be nice to have something to remember her by,” Vander replied. He put the instruments back in their case.

Together they traveled through the caverns to a part Kalla hadn't been to yet. As they walked, they were joined by four other male Dashmari, once more dressed in the uniforms of the Donnerkeil. The group came to a good-sized chamber with several handcrafted stone platforms in it. Upon one of these platforms lay Kartoff, laid out on a litter. The Emperor was dressed in his military uniform, the wolf crown once more upon his head. In death, the harshness that had lined his face was gone.

Kalla stopped near the door, all but the family stopping with her. The three clustered around the platform, Merryn between her brothers. They stood silent for a moment, then Merryn buried her head against Aryff, sobbing quietly. The Dashmuynin hugged her, murmuring in Dashmari. He pressed something into her hand, which she then clutched to her chest. The Healer knew that Aryff had told his sister of Kartoff's final words for his children. She also knew that, until Grosso had begun influencing the Emperor, he'd doted upon his only daughter.

After some time Merryn grew still and quiet. She drew away from Aryff and unfolded what he'd pressed to her palm. Silver winked at the end of a long chain. With another soft sob, Merryn slipped the chain over her neck. Bending down, she kissed her father gently on the forehead. The two brothers each laid a hand on Kartoff's arm in a final touch before drawing back.

Aryff motioned the soldiers forward. He and Vander took up positions at the head of the litter and the soldiers fell in behind them. Together they lifted it to their shoulders and traveled through the Warrens, picking up the remaining Dashmari as they went.

The funeral procession exited the caverns to the roaring of Carginov Falls and the brilliant sparkle of a new-risen sun. The bearers settled the litter more firmly upon their shoulders and began the long trek through the mountain woods to the
paska
grove.

The
paska
trees were huge, gnarled trees- a tree-climber's paradise, big enough to build spacious tree-houses in. These
paskas
had burial platforms throughout their boughs instead. Wide-based ladders stood against one platform. Six bundles or the remnants thereof already lay atop it, and Kalla guessed they contained the rest of Vander's family. Carefully Aryff and Vander began to climb the sturdy ladders. Once they gained the platform they gently took hold of the litter and fed it onto the platform with the help of the four Donnerkeil.

Once Kartoff's body was on the platform, the Donnerkeil removed the litter and joined those gathered around the base of the tree. As Kalla glanced around, she could see that the
paskas
around them had many platforms built in, several with wrapped bodies still upon them. Surprisingly, there was only a faint scent of decay.

Vander and Aryff remained on the platform with Kartoff's body. With gentle care, the brothers wrapped the body tightly in the black cloth that lay below it. When they were finished, Aryff dipped his fingers in a pouch plucked from his belt and blew a fine golden dust over the body. Twice more, the Dashmuynin sent a sparkling golden shower to rain down upon the Emperor's body. He handed another pouch to Vander, who repeated the action with dust that glittered like rubies in the dappled sunlight.

When they were finished Aryff spoke a few words in his own language, then tipped his head back and howled. A heartbeat later and Vander's voice joined in. One by one, the Dashmari lifted their voices in a wordless, haunting song. The eerie cries rang through the grove, mournful and beautiful at the same time. Kalla wondered how many outsiders had ever witnessed a Dashmari pack's song. Few, she guessed. On an impulse, the Healer lifted her own voice in a clear, bell-like howl, merging flawlessly with the rest.

Aryff and Vander ended their howls. Slowly, the rest of the Dashmari trailed off. From the platform, the War Mage gave Kalla a grateful look. He had heard her voice among the others and that had meant something to him. She was glad. Amaraaq she may be and Dashmari she may look, but Kalla had been born Argosian in this lifetime and knew very little of the culture and customs of the people who were now hers.

Vander and Aryff descended the platform and made their way through the crowd. Kalla fell in beside Vander as they began the trek back to the caverns. The War Mage remained silent as they walked, and Kalla didn't press him to talk. She did, however, place a hand on his arm in a comforting gesture. His head was bowed, but he brushed his fingers over her hand in thankful acknowledgment. The past few days had stressful and trying for him. The death of his father, Kartoff's words, learning of Merryn and her mistreatment by Grosso. It was all too much to take at once.

The War Mage's steps had grown heavier as they walked, his head bowed more deeply. As they neared the caverns, Kalla heard Kasai call out softly in the whistling language of the Harriers. A moment later Aleister spoke in her mind.

“
Kasai says Vander needs to grieve. He's holding too much in, but is afraid of letting it show,
” he said. There were more soft whistles.

“
He asks if you can help.
”

Kalla nodded. She wasn't surprised, given what she knew of Vander's relationship to Shingar, that he would be shielding such sensitive emotions from Kasai.

“
I will do what I can,
” she replied.

When they reached the great cavern, it took them all of ten minutes to get ready to leave. Vander had changed back into his magi robes and carefully folded the blue Dashmuynin robes, placing them in the tambourine pouch he now wore over his shoulder. Kalla declined an offer to stay for lunch, but did promise that they would come back when they had the chance. Brief though it had been, she found that she had enjoyed most of the time spent among the Dashmari.

Merryn made her brother promise that he would come back to visit. Vander stiffened for a few seconds, before carefully returning the hug. Merryn drew away and kissed him on the cheek, before shyly approaching Kalla and giving the Healer a hug as well.

“Thank you for helping us. And thank you for taking care of Vander,” Merryn whispered where only she could hear. A pang of guilt flashed through Kalla as she returned the girl's hug. It had only been a recent thing after all, her 'taking care of Vander'.

A squeal interrupted their farewells. A weight slammed into Vander's leg, causing it to buckle slightly. Kalla saw him smile faintly as he looked down to find Nys clutching his robes. The cub held out her arms to be picked up and he patiently obliged her.

“Firefur leave?” she asked. He nodded.

“Yes, little one. We have to leave now,” Vander said.

“Come back?”

“We will come visit when we are able to,” he replied.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Nys studied him for a moment before throwing her arms around his neck. He returned the hug and carefully set the cub on the ground, a shadowed, unreadable look on his face. Vander watched Nys run off, then turned without another word and began walking towards the Thunder Warrens and the way out. Kalla exchanged a look with Kasai and Aleister before they, too, started walking. Aryff's soft voice made Kalla turn back.

“Help him heal, Lady Amaraaq.”

Kalla nodded once, then turned to where Aleister stood waiting for her. Once back to the ship, Kasai settled onto Thiassi's back, while the others boarded the
Stymphalian
. He let out another series of whistles as the great frost wyrm pushed off, followed by Amaterasu.

Inside the ship, Vander retreated to one of the berths without a word to either Kalla or Aleister. The Healer shared look with him as he settled into the captain's chair and began powering up the ship.

“
Go help him. I'll let you know when we are getting close to Kithva. We can refuel there and then make our way to Port Zinlin,
” Aleister said.

Kalla found Vander sitting on the bed, slumped against the wall. She knocked on the doorframe, then walked in when he made no response. The Healer settled on the bed beside the despondent Dashmari as the ship lifted off.

“Vander? Talk to me, please,” she said gently. He shook his head without meeting her eyes.

“There is nothing to talk about, Dashkele,” he mumbled.

“Of course not. You've only re-established contact with your family, discovered you have a sister, one who was abused by your former master, and, oh yes, lost your father and found that you do have a place among your people. Certainly there is nothing to talk about. Whatever got into me?” she said in a slightly gruff voice. Now the War Mage did look at her, his blue eyes dulled with pain and hurt.

“I wish I had had the chance to make peace with Kartoff,” he said softly. “I wish I had come back earlier than now, that I might have known Merryn before. Grosso never told me. He'd been visiting the Dashmari for some time, yet he never bothered to mention Merryn.

“I wish we had never come here in the first place…”

“I am sorry that it came to killing Kartoff, Vander. Truly I am. I do, however, think I can help you there. You see, I sent him to Araun. We can go visit, if you like, as soon as we have dealt with the trouble brewing in Argoth. I don't think Lord Araun would mind.

“As for having come back before now, you and I both know why you didn't. That is something that can't be changed, but at least you have the chance to get to know Merryn now. That is something, is it not?

“I can see why you might wish we hadn't come here though. Your people are a close knit group. It is imprinted in you to seek out contact with pack and family. You got a forcible reminder of all that you had been denied,” Kalla said.

Vander had shrugged himself down so that he now lay on the bed, facing the wall. She reached out and ran her fingers through his mane.

“Yes,” he said hoarsely. The Healer could feel the pressure against the dam of his emotions grow stronger, yet he was still fighting himself.

“You have a pack now. We will not abandon you or turn you away. Nor use you as Grosso did. These things I promise you.”

Fine tremors ran through Vander's body as he continued to fight against his sadness and his lingering fears of inferiority.

“Shh. Just let go. You need to grieve and purge these feelings. You know this. Stop fighting. Trust that the future will be a good one,” Kalla said. A muffled sob greeted her words as the dam finally broke. Kalla stayed there with him until Vander finally fell asleep. As she walked to the front of the ship, she heard her magister's voice, speaking softly. She gave Aleister a tired smile as she sank down in the gunner's chair.

“I think he'll be better now.”

“That's good,” the Fox replied. “We are approaching Kithva and have permission to land.”

“Then on to Zinlin and Argoth once more…” Kalla sighed. “We are being distracted. Lead around by the nose, it feels like. Yet, I can't just let this pass. The Argosian Fleet loosed on any country is a terrible thing to contemplate. We will deal with this and then let the Kanlon deal with any further political snarls Grosso has created.”

Aleister nodded as he banked the ship and circled around the port city of Kithva. The airship paddocks lay on the outskirts of the interior side of the city. Tall-masted ships dotted the coast, a miniature forest upon the ocean. Beyond glittered the vastness of the Aryth.

The Fox brought the
Stymphalian
to ground by the refueling ports and powered it down. The two wyvern landed nearby. Kasai slid from Thiassi's back, sauntering across the paddocks as two people came out of the control tower. They met Aleister and Kalla at the foot of the stairs. Quickly and efficiently they readied the ship for refueling. Kalla watched as they removed the depleted energy rods, replacing them with new ones charged in one of the skyport's depth wells. The old rods would be placed into one of the wells, to be recharged by the Artificers stationed there

The hawk met Kalla's eyes and twitched a brief smile. “Thank you for helping Vander, Lady Kalla. He is resting better now. I can sense that.”

“I'm glad I was able to get him to let go. After we finish in Argoth I am taking him to visit Araun and Kartoff. He can at least get that closure.”